Abstract
The pathogenicity of Bacillus anthracis, a gram-positive spore-forming bacterium, mainly depends on two plasmid-encoded virulence factors: a poly-gamma-D-glutamate capsule and two toxins. Bioluminescence imaging was used to follow in real-time B. anthracis population dynamics during cutaneous and inhalational infection with bacteria expressing either toxins or capsule. B. anthracis spores were shown to germinate and establish infection at the initial site of inoculation in both routes of infection. Encapsulated B. anthracis then progress to the draining lymph node, spleen, lung, and ultimately the blood. In contrast, toxinogenic non-encapsulated bacteria are initially confined for a prolonged period to the initial site of infection, and then progress to the draining lymph node, and late in the infection, to the kidneys, and frequently the gastrointestinal tract; there is minimal colonization of the spleen. Bioluminescence imaging was also applied to real-time visualization of the effects of immunisation with toxin. We identified the group IIA secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2-IIA) as a key anthracidal effector of host innate defense. Transgenic mice expressing human sPLA2-IIA are protected against anthrax and in vivo administration of sPLA2-IIA significantly protects sPLA2-IIA-deficient mice against B. anthracis infection. The potential of this enzyme as a natural therapeutic agent in adjunction to current therapy for treating anthrax is discussed.
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Goossens, P.L., Glomski, I.J., Touqui, L., Mock, M. (2010). Dynamics of Bacillus anthracis Infection and Control Mechanisms. In: Shafferman, A., Ordentlich, A., Velan, B. (eds) The Challenge of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9054-6_3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9054-6_3
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